Newcastle United transfer rumours: Player in advanced exit talks, Bruce plots defender raid on former club

It was announced last week that the Magpies’ takeover arbitration with the Premier League had been adjourned until ‘early 2022’ due to “issues with the disclosure of evidence”.

The announcement dealt a major blow to Mike Ashley’s hopes of selling the club in the immediate future, and left ex-Celtic star Frank McAvennie less than impressed.

“It’s wrong,” he said.

“Mike wants to sell the club, he has the buyers, and for some reason they can’t do it. The whole thing is a farce. ‘What else can he do?’

“I don’t understand, they have done everything. I feel so sorry for the fans, I lived up there for 15 years and the fans are salt-of-the-earth people.

“They love their club and I feel for them because it’s not right.”

Anti-Ashley chants were heard from the away end during a friendly at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium on Friday night.

However, McAvennie insists the Sports Direct tycoon can’t do a lot more in his attempts to force the takeover through.

McAvennie continued: "They can have a go at Mike but what else can he do?

“He’s agreed a deal and it’s not happened, now they have put it on hold for six months.

“Nothing even happened in the last six months. The sooner it happens the better.

“The club needs to be football first and it’s not at the moment. There must be something wrong.

“I just wish for the Geordies to find someone who cares about the club.”

We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League transfer speculation below…